In terms of personnel the
largest Joint Maritime Course JMC to date took place over the 31st
March – 11th April 2014the first of two NATO JMC
exercises. Taking part in the exercise were over 13,000 personnel,
33 ships, 3 submarines and multiple ground, troop and air assets
from 9 separate countries. The exercise is planned with the aim
to meet the training needs for all the nations taking part. This is
done by creating a scenario of diferent Nations in dispute. The
core scenario began in the late 1960’s disintegration of the
“Ryanian Empire” into four nations. The evolving history has
contributed over the years so that the adapted scenario is re
written after each Joint Warrior. Designed to recreate a
range of modern operations, these include nation on nation
humanitarian and now terrorist activities, piracy missions.

Air assets deploying to Lossiemouth for JW14-1 were, from Canada
two CP-140 Auroras - one each from 405 and 407 Long Range Patrol
Squadrons, from France a single Dassault Atlantique. Operated by 21
and 23 Flotille at BAN Lann-Bihoué, from the USA were two P-3
Orion’s of VP-10 "Red Lancers" from Jacksonville Naval Air Station,
a singal Boeing P-8A Poseidon VP-5 "Mad Foxes", there was also a
sole NP-3C Orion from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 20 (VX-20)
which wasn’t taking part in the exercise it was in fact conducting
trials by using the vast amount of Naval hardware at sea. From New
Zealand a single P-3K of 5 Squadron finaly with regards to Maritime
Patrol Aircraft was a single P-3C Orion of 333 Squadron the Royal
Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) from Andøya.

Also operating from Lossiemouth were Cobhams Falcon 20s with Hawk
T1s of 736 NAS. The two types normally pair up so as to conduct
attacks on ships in the fleet when the Falcon will play the role of
the attacking aircraft which will launch simulated missiles in the
form of the Hawk T1s that accompany the Falcons on each sortie.

During the press brief the question was asked over the absensece of
any RAF MPA, to which Squadron
Leader Lloyd Barrett responded by saying that after the next defence
revue there would be an anoncement regarding a replacement for the
Nimrod and with repect to the loss of the Nimrod
Lieutenant Colnel Bjorn Gohn-Hellum commented that the The Royal
Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) were feeling the effects of not having
the support of Nimrod and it is affecting RNoAF.

AIRCRAFT BASED AT LOSSIEMOUTH

USN P3C

USN P3C

USN NP3C

USNP8A

RCAF

RCAF

RNZAF

French Navy

RNoAF

FRADU Hawk T1

FRADU Hawk T1

FRADU Hawk T1

FRADU Hawk T1

FRADU Hawk T1

FRADU Hawk T1

Cobham Falcon 20

Cobham Falcon 20

Cobham Falcon 20

Cobham Falcon 20

Cobham Falcon 20

Cobham Falcon 20

159885 VP10

161413/LD VP10

158204 VX20

168436/LA VP5

140113

140115

NZ4203

18

3298

XX301

XX316

XX261

XX170

XX236

XX240

G-FARF

G-FARJ

G-FARK

G-FRAP

G-FRAR

G-FRAW

Away from Lossiemouth other British air assets that were

II Squadron RAF Regiment, RAF Honington

XI Squadron, Typhoon, RAF Coningsby

IX Squadron, Tornado, RAF Marham

100 Squadron, Hawk, RAF Leeming

8 Squadron, E-3D Sentry, RAF Waddington

10 Squadron, Voyager (Air to Air Refuelling), RAF Brize
Norton

47 Squadron, C-130 Hercules, RAF Brize Norton

Merlin, RAF Benson

Chinook, RAF Odiham

AH64, Wattisham

Lynx AH9A’s,
AAC Middle Wallop

The rotary section of this exercise were kept extremely busy around
Luce Bay and the Solway Firth area these operations were to
culminate in a mass lift from (West Freugh) and attack (Kinloss
Barracks) after refuelling at Leuchars. Also as part of JW14-1 where
two more C130’s from Belgium and Norway these would also be involved
in the airfield attack at Kinloss where they would perform tactical
landings along with an RAF C130.